Mass in Motion to offer CSA farm program at city housing developments

By Kathleen McKiernan kmckiernan@s-t.com

Friday

Oct 23, 2015 at 12:49 PMOct 23, 2015 at 12:49 PM

NEW BEDFORD –With a $29,095 grant, Mass in Motion will start a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program at two New Bedford public housing sites in partnership with two Dartmouth farms, to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables directly to residents over 20 weeks beginning next summer.

Mass in Motion, a state Department of Public Health funded program, based out of the city's Office of Housing and Community Development, will work with Apponagansett Farm and Round the Bend Farm, both located in Dartmouth, to create a weekly, affordable CSA share that can feed up to a family of four.

“We are so excited about this project,” said Kim Ferreira, Mass in Motion director in a press release. “Because affordable and reliable transportation can be a challenge for many New Bedford residents, this program cuts out that piece – residents won’t have to worry about driving to get fresh and local vegetables, the produce will be dropped off right at their door.”

It was one of 20 organizations in New England selected for a Healthy Food Fund grant from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation.

“In New Bedford, we’re leading the charge when it comes to recognizing our challenges and mobilizing to address them at the community level through collaboration and creativity," said Mayor Jon Mitchell in a statement. "With each new initiative Mass in Motion undertakes, they move our city in a healthier direction. We’re lucky to have outstanding leadership at Mass in Motion, and such willing and able partners across the region dedicated to making New Bedford a healthier place."

Each week, the farmers will deliver the CSA shares to participating families and individuals living at Ben Rose and Presidential Heights, the two housing developments that have ROSS Coordinators or (Resident Opportunities and Self Sufficiency) who will work on recruiting families to sign up. Mass in Motion also plans to offer educational workshops on healthy eating and cooking.

With CSAs, people buy a share of the farm's weekly harvest where the size and price are pre-determined. Participants pay for the share up front at the beginning of the season and receive the vegetables and fruits that are harvested that week.

“Knowing that transportation has always been a barrier for many of our residents, we are excited to be able to offer a program that eliminates that issue, bringing fresh produce right to our residents' doors,” said Steven Beauregard, Executive Director of the New Bedford Housing Authority, in a press release.

Follow Kathleen McKiernan on Twitter @KatMcKiernanSCT

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